A Quick Update

I love my job, guys, and that makes me so happy!

In the morning, my commute is over an hour, and work starts at 8:30, but I arrive early just in case, and I give myself an hour before I leave in the morning... so bedtime is 10pm or later.  Haven't had that in a looong time.

My wedding invitations went out this week!  Done!

I printed Korea pictures for a photo album.

Loft and Ann Taylor had killer sales this weekend.  Along with two different Ross locations, I got killer deals on new work clothes.  I want to take pictures for you guys!

Business and business casual are very different.

I made a Christmas list today for my boss.  She likes to buy presents.  It was fun to think of nice things I'd like to have.  I kinda want to show you, just because I like these things.

And now I want to go to sleep!

I'm a Teacher Again!

The first and second times Caleb and I met outside of our first two Bible study run-ins were to attend or to teach a swing dancing event.  And now, nearly 4 years later... We're teaching swing dancing in our area!!

I've found a dance studio that's giving us an amazing deal, and we're charging people $2 at the door to help cover renting the facility.  We had our first lesson two Fridays ago where we taught the basic step, underarm and overarm turns, and the cuddle.

It was a lot of fun to be around dancing again and teaching again.  A few of the students complimented me and said things like "I can tell you were a teacher."  That made me feel very proud and competent.  It was also very rewarding to see everyone dancing better by the end of the evening than they had been at the beginning.  It was super, super fun.

By the way, if you know of anyone who's interested in extremely cheap swing dancing lessons south of Atlanta, we're planning on meeting probably every other Friday in Tyrone, GA starting at 7:30. The next class will be July 19th.  Please email me for further information or look for the Facebook event.

Sharing Accents Around the World

Inspired by Jasmine's and Felicia's videos showcasing their Australian and Canadian accents, I give you a homemade video that turned out way too long but was very fun to make.

Feel free to share your own!  I'd love to hear.  :)

By the way, I realize now that I didn't spend much time holding up the word cards with the extra things written on them.  On the New Orleans card, I told you that my friend Sarah Becker (photographer extraordinaire) lives there.  For Theatre, I went on a bit about the spellings being different and how here I only use "theatre" to refer specifically to the stage.  On Alabama, I had "Roll Tide," "Leprechauns," and "War Eagle."  Tada!
 
Here's the reading material: 

35 Words:
Aunt, roof, route, wash, oil, theater, iron, salmon, caramel, fire, water, sure, data, ruin, crayon, toilet, New Orleans, pecan, both, again, probably, spitting image, Alabama, lawyer, coupon, mayonnaise, syrup, pajamas, caught, orange, coffee, direction, naturally, aluminum, herbs.

Leading questions:
What is the bubbly carbonated drink called?
What do you call gym shoes?
What do you say to address a group of people?
What do you call the kind of spider that has an oval-shaped body and extremely long legs?
What do you call your grandparents?
What do you call the wheeled contraption in which you carry groceries at the supermarket?
What do you call it when rain falls while the sun is shining?
What is the thing you change the TV channel with?

Monologue:
Please call Stella. Ask her to bring these things with her from the store: six spoons of fresh snow peas, five thick slabs of blue cheese, and maybe a snack for her brother Bob. We also need a small plastic snake and a big toy for the kids. She can scoop these things into three red bags and we will go meet her Wednesday at the train station.

Follow Up on the Human Moment Friend in the Dekalb Farmers Market

I don't know if you remember when I met this man at the Dekalb Farmer's Market last year, but here's the short story:

I met Comé from Benin in the fish department.  He where I'm from, and I told him, "I'm Lindsay, I'm from here, but I most recently lived as an English teacher in Korea."  Comé was intrigued by my English teaching and asked for my number.  I told him I had a boyfriend, but Comé insisted that he only wanted my number so we can practice English.

We have talked on the phone maybe 7 times since that first meeting, and last week I told him that I would be coming by the market again and that I would be able to see him!

It was so so great to watch Comé's face light up when he saw me.  It made me so happy.  I was also especially pleased to introduce him and Caleb to each other.  Caleb asked Comé questions about himself and Comé told the story of how he and I first met.  They both told each other they the other was very lucky to have found me.  They actually said that a lot.  I told them, "Oh boys, stop," but I was beaming.  I was also glad that what I considered a small act had made such an impression on Comé.

Comé has told me that he has tried to connect with a lot of Americans since moving here last year, but they won't pick up the phone when he calls or they never call him back.  He's told me that I am his only friend in America, and that he is always so happy to remember the day we met.  When we talk on the phone, we share about what life has given us, and he is always very encouraging when I tell him how I'm upset about not having a job yet.  He says to me, very thoughtfully and slowly, "Lindsay.  I know that you will do well.  You will find a job.  And all of your dreams will come true.  I think you are a good person.  You are good to help me and to talk with me, and God will take care to you.  You just need to pray, and everything will be fine."

Yep, he tells me almost those exact lines each time we talk.  It makes me smile.

Comé goes to English classes each week and is applying to be in the Navy.  It's been interesting to see America through his eyes, and I'm really glad I gave him my number that first time.

Women doing awesome things

In celebration of the beauty, grace, dignity, strength, and ferocity of the female body and soul, I wanted to share a collection of women doing epic and beautiful things.  I love these pictures!

Credits:
Girl drawing at the window  |  via Tujiko on Tumblr
Dancer Sofia Boutella  |  by Annie Leibovits via Nike Blog
French climber Catherine Sedtivelle  |  via WanderingPioneer.com
Beautiful breastfeeding doula  |  by Deck and Oar of Kim Guiley via Milk and Love
Woman writing  |  via Collections and Recollections
Female archer  |  via MCSG SYM
Girl kissing a cheetah  |  via Whole Lot of Lovely
Harry Potter gif  |  via James Francoco

Kitchen Experiment: Ice Cream Bread

I heard about this cakey, ice creamy, bready dessert first on this thread in Reddit.  I'd bookmarked the other recipes mentioned, but for some reason gave the Ice Cream Bread recipe a second look.  I talked it over with my sister briefly, and we decided it was a ridiculous idea.  So, what the heck, we tried it.

Peach Cobbler ice cream is supposed to be amazing in this recipe, but we only had lactose-free vanilla, caramel, and strawberry.  The lactose-free stuff is usually saved for my mom, and my sister thinks the caramel is too sweet, so strawberry it was.

I mashed the flour and ice cream together Cold Stone style.  It tasted like a strawberry Pop Tart.  It was also hard to mix very well, so I let it sit and warm for a while.

Once it was all moist and in the too-big pan, it looked more like it could be bread.

Here you can see clearly how the pan was too big or the portion was too small.

Tada!  After 45 minutes we had what Taylor likened to a scone and I likened to a biscuit or shortcake.

I think that, with the proper amounts of ingredients, the ice cream bread would come out more cakey.  As it is, I cut all the portions in half because I wasn't sure if I would like it.  Less food being cooked for the same amount of time prescribed in the recipe is what made mine an ice cream biscuit.

I put ice cream on mine.  Don't judge.

I'd like to try the recipe again with a different flavor and definitely with the correct portions.  I believe in its potential.  The stuff I ate just now is pretty good, but I'd really like to try it in its true form.

Happy Weekend and Recommended Links

This week I saw lightning his a traffic light in front of me, I met with 2 different recruiters who are going to help me in my job search, I built a résumé for my future brother-in-law, and I bought Ecofetti for people to throw at me and my new husband on our wedding day.  I also saw Man of Steel just yesterday, and I think it's pretty darn good.  I prefer Amy Adams in Enchanted, and some of the cinematography made me tilt my head, but it was very entertaining, it made me laugh, and it made me cry. (Actually, here's a non-spoiler secret:  There's one part that is exceptionally tense that made me cry in fear.  I have never cried in fear before.  What the heck?)

If you battle wanderlust occasionally, too, here's a great Pinterest board for you called Cultures from Around the World.  Well, maybe it won't be so great to get more glimpses into places where you are not, but you might like to see the pictures.

Here's an article by Colossal about an art/music exhibit where a girl makes music with her mind.  Watch the video and read the description.  They left me in awe of the intimacy and complexity of the display.  Amazing.

For anyone who would like to know, I can recommend Batiste's brunette dry shampoo.  It does its job of soaking up the extra oil in my hair when I haven't showered for a while, it blends in pretty well with my dark hair, and the smell reminds me of coconuts.

Here's a collection of interesting facts you probably didn't know.

One more thing... Will anyone wear these pretty clothes with me?

via Fashion with Aman Maryam